KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here yesterday heard that an intercepted phone call allegedly to the late self-proclaimed Sultanate of Sulu young prince Datu Agbimuddin Kiram who allegedly intruded into Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu in February 2013 with his followers, had revealed that he would not go back despite dwindling food supplies.
Special branch supervising officer of the communication interception division, ASP Muhammad Fauzarri Jaidin, told Justice Stephen Chung that in that intercepted phone conversation allegedly from an accused, Basil Samiul, it was also revealed that Datu Agbimuddin allegedly insisted he would not return home even though Malaysia might take action.
“Datu Agbimuddin had allegedly mentioned that the issue (Sabah claim) had come to the world stage,” the witness testified in the continuation of his examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, which has entered its sixth day.
The witness and his team had conducted communication interceptions on 10 accused persons, totaling some 73 intercepted conversation products and each product contained more than one intercepted calls made within 24 hours on the dates requested by the special branch coordinating officers for certain operations throughout Ops Daulat.
The witness had also testified that those intercepted communication products had been re-classified to cease as top secret by the inspector-general of police.
To a question by Mohd Dusuki, the witness also testified that in another intercepted conversation, Basil had allegedly told Datu Agbimuddin about an information obtained from his in-law’s spouse who saw ‘two tanks’ and a Land Rover vehicle from Sahabat 16 entering the area.
“The two intercepted phone calls were allegedly made at 4.40pm and 6.36pm respectively, between February 22 and 23, 2013, where Basil used 0197569906 and Datu Agbimuddin’s alleged phone number was 0178900767.
“On the next day, another call was intercepted allegedly from Datu Agbimuddin to Basil where Basil told Datu Agbimuddin that information allegedly from Datu Omar and Datu Baktiar of Kota Kinabalu said that if Datu Agbimuddin was arrested, the reward was RM200,000 and other different rewards if generals Hj Musa and Majid were arrested,” the witness explained of what he understood from the conversation.
To another question by Mohd Dusuki, the witness further testified that another call allegedly from Basil to a person referred to as Datu Piah, was intercepted where Basil informed Datu Piah that reporters were not allowed in and food supplies had also been cut off.
“Then Datu Piah said one Abi had made a report regarding that matter to Human Rights and when Datu Piah asked about their food supply, Basil said it was still enough for the moment,” the witness further explained.
Muhammad Fauzarri was the 89th witness called by the prosecution and the first witness to give his evidence on the communication interceptions in the trial of 29 men and a woman, who were charged with committing terrorism acts.
The 30 accused persons including Basil, a nephew of the late self-styled Sulu Sultanate III, Datu Jamalul Kiram and 28 others were arrested for allegedly committing the offences at several places in Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak and Sandakan between February 12 and April 10, 2013.
They are liable to the mandatory death sentence while the rest face an imprisonment for life and a fine, upon conviction.
The trial held at a hall which doubled as an open court at the Kepayan prisons here under tight security checks by police and prison personnel will continue on April 6.